I just discovered this board. Very nice! It is nice to see a board for people like me.

Anyway, I have a 1994 4.9L F-150 XL that stalls only when immediately shifting into reverse. I can prevent the stall from happening when I give it a little gas immediately following the shift. I have replaced PCV filter, air filters, plugs many times. It seems that this problem evolved from the occasional sputter to an almost guranteed stall. This process took about two months. Otherwise, the engine runs fine and tranny shifts without problems.

Does this characteristic mean anything? Does anyone have any words of wisdom? Is this a common occurance with this model?

Thanks!

 

I have no idea...but thought I'd welcome you to the board...the guys here are graet and I"m sure you'll have the help you need by tomorrow...sundays/early mondays are kinda slow here

 

5 speed?

 

It is an automatic.

 

Okay, that makes it easy. Your transmission filter has come loose, and is probably sitting in the bottom of the tranny pan. You need to buy 6 quarts of tranny fluid, a filter, and a pan gasket. Drain the tranny fluid out and drop the pan. The filter will likely be sitting in the pan, but even if it's not, remove it and install the new one. Clean the gasket surfaces, and install the pan with the new gasket. Add 4 quarts of tranny fluid, and start the engine. With your foot on the brake, shift the tranny through all the gears, pausing for 3-4 seconds in each gear. Do this a few times, and check the fluid level. Add as necessary.

Take care,
-Chris

 

Thanks, Chris! I will do it this weekend. I really appreciate your wisdom. I will post an update as soon as I am done.
-Don

 

Don't want to sound arrogant PKRWD, but I doubt his tranny filter is laying in the pan. He probably has an E4OD, so checking for this is going to be a real pain unless he has a lift. That could well be the problem, but might also simply pull and clean the IAC valve. That's what determines idle roughness/smoothness and is generally the root of the problem of stalling in reverse. I pulled and cleaned mine with carb cleaner and it fixed the problem entirely. A year or two later the IAC died altogether, the pintle broke, so I had to replace it. Cost about $30 I think, but can't remember. Your IAC is that cigar shaped cylinder right behind your air intake tubes. Has a elect. connector on one end. Unplug that, remove two screws and off it comes. Hope this helps. Oh yeah, IAC is Idle Air Control.

 

You might very well be right. It's been my experience, though, that a dirty IAC will have the same effect on idle quality when put in drive as it does when put in reverse. Also, in the past 2 years, I have serviced 15+ F-150's, from early 90's to late 90's, that had the same driver complaint (stalls when put into reverse), that was fixed by replacing the transmission filter. At least 4 of them had the filter in the pan. Still, that doesn't mean that draining the fluid and changing the filter will solve this problem, but it's the first step I'd take, again, based on my experience. It's hard to diagnose a driver complaint without being able to duplicate the problem in front of me, and without being able to inspect the vehicle first hand. But based on the description given, and the significance placed on the complaint occuring when shifted into reverse, yet running great otherwise, I feel pretty good about recommending a fluid and filter change. If nothing else, it's routine maintenance that has likely been overlooked, and should be done anyway. But it might also solve the complaint without the usual throwing parts at it until it's fixed logic that seems to abound on many of these message boards (not you).

BunkerBuster-
If the tranny filter doesn't correct your problem, tmcalavy's suggestion would definately be worth trying. Post your results, and we'll go from there. Also, when refilling the tranny, start with 3 quarts (instead of 4).

Take care,
-Chris

 

Interesting. Didn't know that. Is what you've seen with this condition particular to any certain tranny, like the E4OD or others?
Just curious, cause I have a 90 F150 with E4OD and always like to be one step ahead of the beast if possible. Valuable observation.

 

TMCALAVY
do you have the off switch on the shifter for OD? i doupt you have an E4OD in a 90 . it is probably an AOD unless you have that switch .

 

Thanks for all of your responses. I will keep you guys posted.
-Bunk

 

tmcalavy-
I just did a quick search on iATN, which is a network of ASE certified mechanics I belong to, and found several similar fixes. Below are three that are typical of the rest (note that one is for a 5.4L '98, one is for a 5.8L '94, and one is for a 5.0L '93).

1998 Ford Pickup F150

Engine: 5.4 L / 330 CID / 8 cyl / Gas / SOHC
Fuel: Fuel Injection / mpi
Ignition: Distributorless
Trans: 4-speed Automatic Transmission (Electronic)
Mileage: 71,000 mi
Emissions: OBD-II Compliant
VIN: 1FTRX17LOW

Symptoms: Poor Idle Quality, Stall
Occurs: Always

_____________________ ORIGINAL MESSAGE _____________________

have good customer come in with this 98 that stall's when you
put the truck into reverse. it only happens in reverse. cold
it will stumble down but usually stay running, hot stall
every time. not immediate but about a second after you get
reverse. you feel a shift into reverse than the engine
stumbles and stalls. It kind of feels like tcc applying. I
have no codes. I do rember older fords having a trans filter
problem causing a similiar concern. called my local dealer,
didn't get anything of any use. the only thing i notice on
data stream is tr sensor shows error when in park, shows d/2
in reverse. Since I have no codes I think that maybe be
scanner error, I use a master tech. I'm not a trans tech, if
it's internal I will advise customer to trans shop of his
choice. I will change a solonoid or harness type things but
not open case. any thing ringing any bells thanks ofr the
time.

___________________ TEST AND REPAIR DATA ___________________

Checked for codes and none were found.

___________________________ FIX ____________________________

got two responses. My gut feeling about trans filter problem
was right, finally pulled pan found filter laying in bottom.
Ordered new motorcraft filter, throwing aftermarket to trash
can!!!. before pulling pan. I disconected solonoid connector
started and shifted knowing that trans would be in limp mode,
put in reverse still had double hit feel but not quite to
stall, while drive felt normal[or third I should say]. one
response said tr sensors are common to go bad. Before pulling
pan I called the two trans shops, that I think know what
their doing. One said tr sensor, the other said to shift
truck into manual low gear if I also had double hit feel
internal problem pull pan, he also said to me tcc works
opposite on these trany's takes fluid pressure to keep
released. installed new filter and truck shifts normally!. I
went through alldata about testing tr sensor, Ford charts are
as usual useless without their scantool to acess pid's. and
nothing but their tool can get to them. the second post that
I got said to check filter for falling off or leaking, also
mentioned that tr sensor is critical for proper function. For
those who don't have alldata or other, tr sensor houses
back-up, neutral, and four on /off switches [which have
different combinations to tell pcm what gear range] and
another switch which wire diagrams list color codes but
nothing about what it does?


Daniel Foster
Owner/Technician
Road Runner Auto Repair
Hudson, Florida, USA

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1994 Ford Pickup F150

Engine: 5.8 L / 351 CID / 8 cyl / Gas / OHV
Fuel: Fuel Injection / EFI
Ignition: Distributor-Breakerless / TFI
Trans: 4-speed Automatic Transmission (Electronic)
Mileage: 82,375 mi
Emissions: OBDI US FED
VIN: 1FTDF15R9R

Misc Data: F-150
Symptoms: Stall
Occurs: Intermittently

_____________________ ORIGINAL MESSAGE _____________________

Hello, Hope u-all can help.Truck runs great, idles
smooth,truck dies when you move from D to R after coming to a
stop.Run a scanner (snap-on)and recorded a movie of the data
stream when the truck dies, but every thing looks good. Hope
some one can help,

Thanks Dan

___________________ TEST AND REPAIR DATA ___________________

Checked for codes and none were found.

___________________________ FIX ____________________________

belive it or not, the filter of the trans was fallen,
replaced it with new filter, and the vechicle ran great no
more stalling. thanks for the responses,(18) 80% said try the
filter.

thanks alot u all, dan


Daniel Guerrero
Owner/Technician
Dan's Auto
Brownsville, Texas, USA

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1993 Ford Pickup F150

Engine: 5.0 L / 302 CID / 8 cyl / Gas / OHV
Fuel: Fuel Injection / SPFI
Ignition: Distributor-Breakerless / HEI
Trans: 4-speed Automatic Transmission (Electronic)
Mileage: 42,441 mi
Emissions: US Fed Emissions
VIN: IFPEX14NXN

Misc Data: extended cab short box, 4x4, Well maintained
Symptoms: Stall
Occurs: occaisoinally in drive but almost everytime the vehicle is put into reverse
More Info: Test results & repair history included below

_____________________ ORIGINAL MESSAGE _____________________

This F-150 stall occaisonally at stops and then will
immediately restart when the key is turned. However almost
everytime the vehicle is put into reverse it will stall and
have to be restarted. tansmission reverse pressure is 75psi
lower then it should be... forward gears psi is fine. I am
wondering if this may be a MAP sensor problem, maybe the
sensor is cutting out when the vaccum changes while reverse
is selected...

___________________ TEST AND REPAIR DATA ___________________

Checked for codes and none were found.

TESTING AND RESULTS

fuel pressure - 35-40 idle
TPS - 1.00V @idle 4.32V WOT
IAC - within specs
Base Idle - right on the money

RELATED REPAIR HISTORY

Very well maintained all schedualed services and then some,
customer takes very good care of this truck.


___________________________ FIX ____________________________

Upon dropping the tranny pan I found the wrong transmission
filter and it was not connected to the transmission.


Brian S. Goetz
Owner/Technician
Sleepers Racing
Wausau, Wisconsin, USA



Take care,
-Chris

 

The trany filter was indeed sitting on the bottom of the pan. It apparently became seperated from the washer that is used to hold it up into the aperature. My wife had the filter chanded a couple years ago as part of routine maintainance so it kind of irks my that this happened. On interesting thing is that there was a ring magnet (I am new to all of this. Helped a friend rebuild a motor in high school, but that was it. No tranny experience whatsoever.) in the bottom of the pan. It had some grease all over it. It looked and felt like moly grease(?). Which begs the question: was the pan ever cleaned when the fluid was replaced? Anyway, imbedded in the grease was small metal filings-very small, only a couple. So I cleaned the whole pan and magnet, replaced the gasket, and replaced the filter. Filled it up. Fired it up. I went through the routine it did not stall, but it did continue to sputtter slightly. I drove it aroung a while. Checked the level. All ok. Put it into reverse and sputtered. Put it into first and second and sputtered as well. In retrospect, I never really tried to manually shift it into these gears. Put it pack into reverse, sputtered then stalled. So I will take a look at the IAC tomorrow.
I will keep you posted. Any further thoughts?
Thanks again!

 

Well, I checked the transmission fluid level one last time. It was down. So I had to add another quart and a half! Drove around and checked yet again. All ok. Tranny shifts without hesitation. Manual shifts into 1 and 2 were super smooth. Shift from park to reverse weht without sputter or hesitation.
Thanks again to PKRWUD and everyone else for steering me into the right direction. Thanks to tmcalavy for "Plan-B". I will keep that one in mind.

Time for my next project, whatever it may be. I will be sure to post when thie time comes.

 

Bunkerbuster,
Glad you found and corrected the prob. via this forum. I'll keep the fix in my memory, just in case.
Hey Pkrwud and McGyver: Is this fix a possibility with early '90s E4OD's. Yes, I have such a beast...or so the vin decal says...it has the OD on/off switch on the dash, not on the end of the shifter. Good tranny for me so far. No problems to tell of.